The Minecraft server download is free on minecraft.net for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac. Grab the Java Edition server.jar or the Bedrock Dedicated Server, and your own multiplayer world can be running in about ten minutes.
Pick the server that matches the edition your friends play. Java players need the Java server, while Bedrock players on consoles, phones and Windows need the Bedrock one.
This guide covers the right file for your machine, the official links and sizes, setup on Windows and Mac, the Java runtime it needs, and fixes for a server nobody can join.
Check the Minecraft server system requirements
The two official servers have different needs. The Java server runs anywhere Java 25 runs, while the Bedrock server has a fixed list of systems.
| Item | Java Edition server | Bedrock Dedicated Server |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Mojang Studios (Microsoft) | Mojang Studios (Microsoft) |
| Latest version | 26.3 (released 15 September 2026) | 1.26.51.1 (Bedrock 26.51) |
| File size | 59.4 MB | 81.8 MB Windows, 90.5 MB Ubuntu |
| Supported OS | Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS, Linux | Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, Windows Server 2016 or later, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later |
| Architecture | Any, including ARM64, with a matching Java build | 64-bit, Intel or AMD processor |
| Runtime needed | Java 25 | None |
| CPU and RAM | Not published by Mojang | Intel Core i3 3210 or AMD A8 7600 APU, 4 GB RAM |
| Disk space | Not published by Mojang | 180 MB to 1 GB |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Official source | minecraft.net Java server page | minecraft.net Bedrock server page |
| Offline installer | Yes, the .jar is the whole server | Yes, the ZIP is the whole server |
| Last verified | 2026-09-19 | 2026-09-19 |
Press Windows + I, open System > About and read System type to confirm a 64-bit PC. The Bedrock server needs an Intel or AMD processor, so ARM chips such as Snapdragon cannot run it.
Which Minecraft server download do you need?
The server has to match the game your players own. A Java server cannot host Bedrock players, and the Bedrock server cannot host Java players.
| You and your friends play | Your host machine | Download | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac or Linux | server.jar | 59.4 MB |
| Bedrock on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, phones or Windows | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | Bedrock Dedicated Server for Windows | 81.8 MB |
| Bedrock on any platform | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later | Bedrock Dedicated Server for Ubuntu | 90.5 MB |
| Bedrock | A Mac | No macOS build. Use a Windows or Ubuntu machine, or a Realm | – |
Download Minecraft Server from minecraft.net
Mojang hosts both servers on minecraft.net. The Java file itself comes from Mojang’s own piston-data server, the same place the launcher downloads the game from.
- Minecraft Java Edition server download page — current server.jar plus the official start command
- server.jar (Java Edition 26.3) — 59.4 MB · SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c
- Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server download page — Windows and Ubuntu builds, plus Preview builds
Downloading either server means you accept the Minecraft EULA. On the Bedrock page, tick the consent box to unlock Download, and skip Preview unless your players run the Preview game.
How to set up the Java server on Windows 11 and 10
The Java server has no installer. You run the .jar from a folder with Java, so install Java 25 first.
- Install Java 25 with the winget command in the next section, or from the Microsoft Build of OpenJDK download page.
- Create an empty folder such as C:\MinecraftServer .
- Download server.jar and move it into that folder.
- Open the folder in File Explorer, click the address bar, type cmd and press Enter.
- Run java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar server.jar nogui to start the server with 4 GB of memory.
- Open eula.txt in the folder when the first run stops, change eula=false to eula=true and save it.
- Run the same java command again and wait for the console to report that the world is ready.
- Select Allow if Windows Defender Firewall asks about Java on private networks.
- Launch Minecraft: Java Edition, open Multiplayer > Add Server and enter localhost to test it.
The direct link saves the file as server.jar , so use that name in the command. Leave out nogui to get the server’s own window.
Install Java 25 with winget before you start the server
Minecraft 26.3 requires Java 25. The quickest route on Windows 11 and 10 is Microsoft’s own OpenJDK build through winget, which also puts java on your PATH.
- Right-click Start and select Terminal.
- Run winget install Microsoft.OpenJDK.25 .
- Accept the source agreement if winget asks, then wait for Successfully installed.
- Close the Terminal window and open a new one so the PATH change loads.
- Run java -version and confirm the output starts with version 25.
On an ARM laptop, take the AArch64 build from the Microsoft Build of OpenJDK download page instead.
Run the Bedrock Dedicated Server from a folder on Windows
The Bedrock server is a portable ZIP. Nothing gets installed, so the folder you extract it to is the whole server.
- Open the Bedrock Dedicated Server download page.
- Tick the box to accept the EULA and privacy policy under Windows.
- Select Download to save bedrock-server-1.26.51.1.zip .
- Right-click the ZIP, select Extract All and pick an empty folder.
- Open server.properties in Notepad to set the server name, game mode and difficulty.
- Double-click bedrock_server.exe to start the server.
- Select Allow when Windows Defender Firewall asks about the server.
On Ubuntu, extract the Linux ZIP the same way and start the server from a terminal in that folder. The bundled how-to guide lists every setting.
Which Minecraft server download do you need for your Mac?
A Mac can host the Java server only. Install the Java 25 build for your chip, then run the same server.jar as on Windows.
| Your Mac says | Install Java 25 | Then download |
|---|---|---|
| Apple M1, M2, M3, M4 or later | OpenJDK 25 macOS Apple Silicon pkg | server.jar, 59.4 MB |
| Intel processor | OpenJDK 25 macOS x64 pkg | server.jar, 59.4 MB |
| Any Mac, Bedrock players | Not available | No macOS Bedrock server. Use Realms or a Windows PC |
Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac to see your chip. Then run java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar server.jar nogui in Terminal from the server folder and accept the EULA as on Windows.
Is the Minecraft server free?
Mojang charges nothing for either server. Any site that sells the server software or asks for a licence key is not Mojang.
Yes. The Java server and the Bedrock Dedicated Server are both free downloads from minecraft.net. The cost sits elsewhere: every player needs a copy of Minecraft, and you supply the PC and the internet connection. Paid hosting and Realms only matter if you do not want to run a machine yourself.
Should you install the Java or Bedrock server?
Your players decide this, not your PC. The Java server page states that its server works only with Minecraft: Java Edition.
Install the Bedrock Dedicated Server if anyone plays on a console, phone, tablet or the Windows Bedrock app. Install the Java server if everyone plays Java Edition on a computer. Bedrock players on Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, mobile, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 can all join the same Bedrock server with one IP address and port. The Java server runs on a Mac and on ARM hardware, which the Bedrock server does not.
How to check your server version and update it
The server must run the same version as the players’ game, or they cannot join. Update the server on the day the game updates.
- Compare your file with the current version on the Java server page or the Bedrock server page.
- Type stop in the server console and wait for it to close.
- Copy the whole server folder to a backup location, including the world folder.
- Java: replace the old .jar with the new server.jar and start it with the same command.
- Bedrock: extract the new ZIP to a new folder, copy the worlds folder and server.properties across, then start bedrock_server.exe .
- Join from the game and confirm the world loads.
Fix a Minecraft server that will not start or nobody can join
Find your symptom and work through its fix in order.
‘java’ is not recognized as an internal or external command
Java is missing or not on your PATH, which Mojang flags as a common Windows problem.
- Run winget install Microsoft.OpenJDK.25 .
- Close every Command Prompt and Terminal window.
- Open a new one and run java -version to confirm it answers.
The server closes straight away with a Java version error
An older Java, such as 17 or 21, is first on your PATH.
- Run java -version and read the major version.
- Install Java 25 if it is lower.
- Uninstall the older Java from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or start the server with the full path to the Java 25 java.exe .
The server stops right after the first start
The EULA has not been accepted yet.
- Open eula.txt in the server folder.
- Change eula=false to eula=true and save.
- Start the server again.
Friends outside your home cannot connect
The router or firewall blocks the port. Java uses port 25565 by default.
- Allow Java or bedrock_server.exe in Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall.
- Forward TCP port 25565 for Java, or the port set in server.properties for Bedrock, to your PC in the router settings.
- Give friends your public IP address, not the 192.168 local one.
How to remove a Minecraft server from your PC
Neither server adds an entry to Installed apps, so removing one means deleting its folder.
- Type stop in the server console and wait for it to close.
- Copy the world or worlds folder somewhere safe if you want to keep the map.
- Delete the server folder.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Build of OpenJDK 25 and select Uninstall if nothing else needs Java.
Choose a Minecraft server alternative if you do not want to host
Running your own server means leaving a PC on. Mojang’s paid Realms keep a world online without one.
| Option | Price | Players at once | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java server on your PC | Free | Limited by your PC and upload speed | Full control, mods and plugins |
| Bedrock Dedicated Server | Free | Limited by your PC and upload speed | Mixed console, phone and PC groups |
| Realms for Java Edition | $7.99 USD/month | You + 10 | Java friends, always online |
| Realms for Bedrock Edition | $3.99 USD/month | You + 2 | A small Bedrock group |
| Realms Plus for Bedrock Edition | $7.99 USD/month | You + 10 | Bedrock groups who want Marketplace Pass |
New Realms subscribers get a free trial, but a Realm only accepts players from its own edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Minecraft server free to download?
Yes. Both the Java Edition server and the Bedrock Dedicated Server are free on minecraft.net. You pay nothing for the software, but every player who joins needs their own copy of Minecraft for the matching edition.
Where is the official Minecraft server download page?
The Java server is at minecraft.net/en-us/download/server and the Bedrock Dedicated Server is at minecraft.net/en-us/download/server/bedrock. The Java file downloads from Mojang’s own piston-data.mojang.com server.
Does the Minecraft server work on Windows 11?
Yes. The Java server runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10 with Java 25 installed. The Bedrock Dedicated Server needs Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, which includes every Windows 11 release, on a 64-bit Intel or AMD PC.
How big is the Minecraft server download?
The Java server.jar is 59.4 MB. The Bedrock Dedicated Server ZIP is 81.8 MB for Windows and 90.5 MB for Ubuntu. Java 25 is a separate download from Microsoft or another OpenJDK vendor.
Is there a Minecraft server offline installer?
Yes, in effect. Neither server uses an installer: the Java server.jar and the Bedrock ZIP are the complete server, so both copy to an offline PC and run there.
Can I run a Minecraft server on a Mac?
Yes, for Java Edition. Install Java 25 for Apple silicon or Intel, then run server.jar from Terminal. There is no macOS build of the Bedrock Dedicated Server, which supports only Windows and Ubuntu.
Is the Minecraft server 64-bit or 32-bit?
The Bedrock Dedicated Server needs 64-bit Windows or Ubuntu on an Intel or AMD processor. The Java server is a .jar that runs wherever Java 25 runs, including ARM64 PCs and Apple silicon Macs, and Microsoft’s Java 25 has no 32-bit build.
Is the Minecraft server download safe?
Yes, when it comes from minecraft.net or piston-data.mojang.com. The official Java server is only ever a .jar file, so treat any .exe “Minecraft server installer” from another site as suspect.
What is the latest Minecraft server version?
The Java Edition server is on version 26.3, released on 15 September 2026. The Bedrock Dedicated Server is on build 1.26.51.1, which matches the Bedrock Edition 26.51 hotfix.
Which Java version does the Minecraft server need?
Minecraft Java Edition 26.3 requires Java 25. On Windows, run winget install Microsoft.OpenJDK.25, then run java -version to confirm version 25 answers.
Why can’t I make a Minecraft server?
The usual causes are Java missing from your PATH, an older Java version, or an unaccepted EULA. Install Java 25, set eula=true in eula.txt, and start the server again from its own folder.
Why is my Minecraft server showing offline to friends?
Your router or firewall is blocking it. Allow the server through Windows Defender Firewall, forward port 25565 for Java or the Bedrock port from server.properties, and share your public IP address.
